Cum one, cum all; sperm doner shortage in New Zealand!

An increasing number of lesbians want children, but sperm
donors are unwilling to donate to same-sex couples.

Apart from lengthy waits for couples wanting sperm, there are
also fears New Zealand's small donor pool many have dangerous
consequences.

Many children of same-sex couples socialise with each other as
they grow up, raising the possibility that as adults, some may
enter relationships not realising they share the same father.

Doctor Liz Harding admits the issue raises fears among lesbian
mothers and hopes more sperm donors will come forward to
reduce the chance of this happening.

Fertility Plus laboratory manager Margaret Merrilees said to
combat the problem they allow the sperm of each donor to be
given to a maximum of three lesbian couples.

As a lesbian, Harding never thought she would have the
opportunity to have children.

"When I first came out as a lesbian one of the sad things for me
was that I thought I'd never have children, I thought families
were out of the question for me."

However, five years ago, she gave birth to twins after being
artificially inseminated at a fertility clinic.

Harding said the children brought endless joy to her and her
partner of 11 years, Diane.

Fertility Associates director Richard Fisher said an increasing
number of their clients were lesbian couples and they were
always looking for men who would agree to their sperm being
donated to same-sex couples.

Merrilees said they were in a similar situation.

"We haven't had many new donors recently. We are definitely
getting to the point where before long we won't be able to offer
the service to (lesbian women)."

Of the 10 men who donated sperm to the clinic Harding and
Diane went to, nine had refused to let their sperm go to a
lesbian couple - something the couple found surprising.

"I do feel that people should have a choice where their semen
goes to, but I wonder whether that was maybe an instinctive
reaction to say no when faced with the option on the
questionnaire."

Harding believed it would be helpful if potential donors were
given an option to meet lesbian couples with children.